Improvement in envelope-machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. n. & n. w. SWIFT.

ENVELOPE-MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 22,1876.

N-PEFERS, PHOTU-LITKOGRAFHER. WASHINGYON. D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H; D. & D. W. SWIFT.

- V ENVELOPE-MACHINE. $10,173,870, W Patented mbrizz, 1876.

- IIIIIHH'I, Ii

N- PETERS, FHOTO-UTHDGRAPflEh, WASHINGTON, n c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI HENRY D. SWIFT AND DANIEL W. SWIFT, OF WORCESTER,'MASSAOHUSETTS,

ASSIGNORS TO Gr. HENRY WHITOOMB & (10., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ENVELOPE-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [73,870, dated February 22, 1876; application filed November 27, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY D. SWIFT and DANIEL WHEELER SWIFT, of Worcester, in the county of .Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Envelope-Machines, of which the following is a specification:

Our invention consists of novel improvements in, and combinations of, apparatus forming a combined pasting and folding en- 'velope-machine, all as described and claimed in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, taken on line to w of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a section of the folding-bed, taken on line a; 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan View. Fig. 4 is a section of Fig.1. Fig. 5 is a section of the drier, taken on the line z z of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a plan of a section of the drier. Fig. 7 is a plan of the blank-support.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

To the blank-support G, which is essentially the same as in our former Patent No. 115,382, we now propose to apply a raised form, A, on which the edges of the blanks to be gummed rest, by which the gum is applied to the outermost part of the edge better. From the pile the blanks on plate 0 are taken in proper succession by a gummed lifter, B. The. lifter is gummed by a roller, J, which has reciprocat ing bearer (1 cl hung on-the ends of the roller, which runs. in lip-grooves d of frame E, and is operated by connectingrods g 9, combined with curved levers h h, moved by a suitable cam, a, on the rotating-shaft A. E is a vertically-vibrating frame resting on rods 1)", passing down through the table, and supported by a cross-bar, 0, resting on a lever, (1 and operated by a cam, 6?, on the drivingshaft. K is a thin plate of metal attached to the under side of frame E, and having an opening, a, the shape thegumming is desired to be. The gum-box (not shown) is made in the usual manner, and is located between ends L L of frame E, when the latter is in its most elevated position. The vertical movement of frame E causes the gum-roller J, after leaving the gum-box and gumming the lifter B, to descend in backward movement to the gum-box and on its way it rolls across plate K, and deposits the gum on the edge of the top blank through the openinge referred to. The friction-collar m, being of larger or smaller diameter than roller J, coming in contact with plate K, while roller J passes over the opening in plate K, increases or decreases the rolling motion of the roller, giving a slipping as well. as rotating motion to it while passing over the blank in the opening, which makes the coat of gum on the blank very smooth. A gear and rack may be substituted for friction-collar m. We find gears the best in practice. PlateA on the blank-supporter 0 causes the edges of the blanks to press upward through the opening in plate K, making them more accessible to the roller J. The projections a non plate K, which turn down, catch under the edge of the gum-box in-the latter part of the upward movement of frame E, which causes the plate K to keep down, so as to avoid touching the rollerJ on its way from the gum-box to the lifter B. O is a recipro eating frame or carriage, which conveys the blanks from the pile to the folding mechanism in the usual manner, where the plunger (not shown) carries them down, and the folders operate in the usual manner, with the excep tion of folder P, which has two projecting hooks, f, for the double purpose of keeping the folder from coming clear down, also keeping the newly gummed flap separate from the other three. 1t is the bed 011 which the envelopes are folded. On the top side, and within the folders, is a vertically-adjustable frame, 8, furnished with adjustable slides 8 3, for accommodating the varying thicknesses of the envelopes which are beingfolded. Frame 8 is drawn down by springs g, and is raised by pins 0 c iesting on inclined planes 5 5,

which are adjusted by screws 6 6, as shown in the drawing. The envelope, after having been folded, is elevated from the folders by a vertical sliding yoke, which is the same as in our former patent, and, therefore, not here shown, from which it is removed by downward projections r belonging to the slotted cover if on frame 0, which conveys the folded envelope over bars J J to the drying mechanism. The

drying mechanism consists of an endless series of linked fingers, j, passing over upper and under lower pulleys 7, and operated by gears S 8, as shown in Fig. 1 of drawing. This series of links has fingers, which receive the envelopes, and keep them in place while .dnyin The links are moved downward by gears S 8 one space at a time to receive each new envelope. Gears 8 8 are moved by ratchet z, lever 70, and cam l. The envelopes pass down under the lower pulley 7, then upward over a similar upper pulley, then downward to gears 8 S, which are so set as to throw the links out of a straight line, allowing the fingers to open so as to receive the newlyfolded envelope brought forward by frame 0, and allow the dogs 9 9 to push the dry ones out on plate T. Frame 0 is moved by lever 19 and cam q, and it will be readily seen that it performs these offices. In its forward movement it carries a blank over the folding mechanism, and also carries a folded envelope from over the folding mechanism to the drier, and in its backward movement it causes the dogs 9 9 to push a dry envelope from the drier to the plate T. This plate has upright stops at a, to prevent the envelope from being pushed too far by dogs 9 9 and also has inclines m w to guide the envelope while passing onto it. It is moved by rock-shaft V, lever W, and cam Y, and swings the envelope over into receiver Y. The stops to a and 00 0c steady the envelope while passing into the receiver, in which they are kept from falling out by a device not shown. The curved form of the receiver eonveys the envelopes backward, for the convenience of the machine-tender. \Vithin the re ceiver isa slide, Z, for keeping the envelope in place, having a selt adjusting face, and running on a curved groove. The cord a and weight a always keep the slide against the envelopes. The drier has five fingers on each link, three of which pass down through the slotted cover 011 frame 0,.insuring the discharge of the envelope from the same. On each middle finger is a projection, 2, which drops in a cavity, z, to keep the envelope in place.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure. by Letters Patent- 1 The combination of the raised form A on blanlcsupport and the plate K, provided with opening 0 of COI'I'CSPOlHillIg form, and arranged with relation to said raised form, as and for the purpose described.

2. The roller J mounted in reciprocating bearings d, with its rollers running in lipgrooves, in combination with the connectingrods g g and curved levers h h, as shown and described.

3. The combination of the vertically-vibrating frame E with the roller J, in the manner described, for the purpose of enabling roller J in its forward movement to gum the lifter B, and in its backward movement to descend and gum the edge of the blank projecting through the opening of plate K, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with a blank-support holding the blanks stationary while being pasted, of a pasting-roller, which traverses over and acts upon the blanks with a slipping motion, as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with plate K, of projections n a, for the purpose of keeping plate K from touching roller J on its way from the gum-box to the lifter B.

6. The frame 0, arranged in combination with the lifter, folding mechanism, and the drier, for the purpose substantially as specified.

7. The projecting-hooks f, in combination with folder 1?, for the purposes described.

8. The adjustable frame 8, with its pins 0 0, slides 3 3, inclines 5 5, adjusting-screws 6 6, and springs g, in combination with foldingbed'K, for the purpose of varying to the thickness of the envelope.

9. The bars J J, combined with frame 0, for the purpose of conveying the envelope to the drying mechanism.

10. The combination, with drier, consisting of endless fingers passing over and under pulleys, as described, of the gears 8 8, ratchet 'i', lever 70, and cam l, as and for the purpose described.

1.1. The fingered links, in combination with the slotted cover it on frame 0, as shown, and for the purpose specified.

12. The plate T, with stops to a and inclines mm, in combinatipn with dogs 9 9 .on frame 0,

for the purpose specified. 13. The combination with receiver Y, having curved groove and self-adjusting faced slide, of a cord and weight, as shown, and for the purpose specified.

HENRY 1). SWIFT. DANIEL W. SWIFT. Witnesses:

JOHN S. BRIGHAM, HARRY M. W001), WILLIAM S. MOWER. 

